Cairo Santos Opens Up on NFL Pressure, Age, and the Chicago Bears Future

Cairo Santos Confronts Career Pressures and Success in the NFL

At 34 years old, Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos knows that longevity in the National Football League provides no immunity against roster turnover. Even after securing a four-year contract extension with the franchise, the veteran special teams player recognizes that each season requires him to justify his spot against younger challengers, Folha de S.Paulo reported in an interview detailing his career outlook.

“With each year that passes and my age increases, I have to fight harder to keep up with the pace,” Santos said. The challenges extend past athletic demands into the financial mechanics of professional football. Entering the third year of his current agreement, the native of Limeira, São Paulo, has only a single guaranteed season remaining on his deal, leaving his long-term future in Chicago vulnerable to front-office decisions.

Bears Retain Option to Release Santos Without Remaining Salary Liability

When Santos signed his four-year extension two seasons ago, only the first two years carried full guarantees. Under NFL contract structures, the organization retains the option to release him during or after a campaign without liability for remaining non-guaranteed salary commitments. “The team can cut me after the season or even during it, without owing me the rest of the salary, and sign another kicker,” he explained.

To maintain his role, Santos has routinely fended off challengers brought into training camps by the Bears. While he has consistently secured the position, the daily threat of replacement shapes his preparation. “Winning my job back again is something that motivates me in my preparation before the season,” he noted.

Turning Points on the Field

That pressure manifested acutely during recent regular-season action. After missing a 53-yard field goal attempt against the New England Patriots, Santos needed to convince Ben Johnson to trust him with another long-range opportunity shortly thereafter.

“Our coach’s first intention was to punt and put the defense on the field,” Santos recalled. “When I saw that, I went to talk to my special teams coach because I wanted to kick, since it was within my range.” The special teams coordinator relayed the request to Ben Johnson, who granted the opportunity. Santos rewarded that faith by converting a 58-yard attempt—setting a new career-long mark—to seal a 30-24 victory over New England.

Santos Maintains Franchise Record as Most Accurate Kicker in Chicago History

Despite occasional struggles during a demanding campaign, Santos remains the most accurate kicker in Chicago Bears history, boasting an 87.2% career conversion rate on field goals for the franchise. Through the first seven games of the current schedule, he converted 11 of 15 field goal attempts (73.3%) and made all 21 of his extra-point tries. His misses included a 43-yarder against the Green Bay Packers, a 56-yarder against the Atlanta Falcons, a blocked 23-yard attempt against the Minnesota Vikings, and the 53-yard miss against the Patriots.

Through seven weeks, Santos accounted for 54 of the Bears’ 180 total points as the team compiled a 5-2 record. Yet, even during his peak years, he acknowledges the possibility of entering the NFL free agency market if the organization eventually chooses to pivot toward youth.

Opening Doors for Future Brazilian Athletes

Looking beyond his playing days, Santos plans to use his professional experience to create pathways for aspiring athletes in Brazil. “I believe Brazil must have hundreds of kickers who do not know they are kickers,” he said, pointing to the natural talent cultivated through association football.

Reflecting on his own journey, Santos acknowledged the hurdles facing international prospects, particularly the financial investments required to manage American high school and collegiate sports. Santos himself moved to the United States as a 15-year-old exchange student, an experience that allowed him to play scholastic football and secure university visibility.

Meanwhile, the NFL continues its expansion into South America. Following matches in São Paulo during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Rio de Janeiro hosted a regular-season contest last month where the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 at the Maracanã stadium. The league subsequently established a five-year agreement starting in 2026 to stage at least three regular-season games in Rio de Janeiro, prompting Santos to lobby league commissioner Roger Goodell to bring the Chicago Bears to Brazil for a future matchup.

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